Category: Newsletters by Liturgical Season

The End and the Beginning

The End and the Beginning

In the masterpiece of the Divine Liturgy of Holy Church, we hear much about the end of time in these final weeks of the liturgical year. The theme that dominates the Last Sunday after Pentecost and the First Sunday of Advent is the end of time and the Final Judgement. This theme is the link that draws together the end of this year of grace and the beginning of the next, setting us once again on the path that will make present Christ in all of the mysteries of His Redemption. Let us strive more fervently each year to live them in more deeply, more completely than in years past.

We also share all of our new items for Christmas, relic badges, handmade ornaments, and Christmas scented candles. Read More….

The Apostles’ Retreat

The Apostles’ Retreat

It was during these days of the “first retreat” between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost that the Apostles underwent the last and most difficult part of their spiritual training. The season of Pentecost is the season of sanctification. Throughout our life, it is our turn to “fight the good fight” and carry Christ’s truth and victory banner into the world.

We also remember the anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima and all her message means for the modern world.

In WEBSITE NEWS we give suggestions for reading during this holy Liturgical season, introduce some new images of Blessed Mother, and give an update on our attempts to update the rosary ordering process on our website.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we finally finished the big vestment project we have been working on for the last four years – a solemn vestment set for Easter. We share pictures and stories of how a solemn set like this is made. Read more…

Blessed Easter!

Blessed Easter!

The light of the Resurrection is eternal! No darkness may reverse or conceal it. Christ, our Victim and our Savior, reigns, “despite His enemies”. May this serene and holy light penetrate the souls of all the redeemed and renew the Church of our Risen King. Read more…

Candlemas

Candlemas

This feast marks the official end of the “Christmas season,” and serves as something as a fulcrum between the first part of the liturgical year, Christmas and Epiphany, and the second part, Lent, Passiontide, and Easter. For while the joy and charm of Christmas and the Birth of the Christ Child are renewed with prayers that proclaim Him “the Light of the World,” this event in Our Lord’s life was His “Offertory” – the prelude to His sufferings and redemptive work. It is also the day designated for the special blessing of candles, an important Sacramental for the Church.

We also introduce new our new offering of scented candles and give suggestions for Lenten reading. Read more…

Our Lord in the desert
Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline

Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline

The time of Lent is perhaps the only time that some people think to take stock of their lives with some measure of seriousness. That is a good thing – and this “taking stock” is meant to become a habit in the spiritual life. Indeed, it is something serious Christians do every day. It is called examination of conscience. How do we make a good examination of conscience?

In WEBSITE NEWS we introduce a new book Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline, as well a new Passin of Christ relic badge, Gregorian chant streaming, and Pastel colored Easter candles.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we remember many deceased persons related to our Carmel. Read More….

Look Up, Lift Up Your Head

Look Up, Lift Up Your Head

Throughout the important Feastdays celebrated this past month (Christ the King, All Saints Day, Commemoration of the Poor Souls), one cannot help but turn one’s thoughts to one’s own eternal destiny. The joys of Heaven, the purifications of Purgatory….all are brought before our minds just as the Liturgical Year comes to a climax. It is the intention of Holy Mother Church that we turn our meditations towards our death and judgment, and ultimately the Last Judgement, which is both the theme of the last few Sundays of the year and the focus of the penitential season of Advent.

Meditating on the Last Judgement, and even our own death, has a very specific and salutary purpose in the spiritual life: it serves as both warning and consolation.

In WEBSITE NEWS we explore some of the meaning Catholic meaning behind popular Christmas customs and give recommendations for Spiritual Reading. Read more…

In His Likeness

In His Likeness

In these few short years, when we have seen so many changes in the “landscape” of the world – personally, socially, culturally, politically, morally, emotionally – we felt it very fitting and timely this Lent to give further emphasis to devotion to the Holy Face and its original and ongoing purpose.

In WEBSITE NEWS we have added several images of the Holy Face to our selection of religious art. Each image has a special history and background.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we recently enshrined an image of the Holy Face in our new oratory. We also introduce the four puppies that were born at the Monastery last month. Read more…

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

“O Emmanuel!” (God with us) This is the last of the “O Antiphons,” and it will be sung today during Vespers. It is the final heartrending plea of Holy Mother Church before the great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. We must all make this plea our own, perhaps more than ever before in our own lifetimes. Read More….

Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace

Most people desire peace. They desire peace of mind and of heart, peace with themselves, in their families and friendships, peace at work and at home. They have a constant yearning for it, but so often, it seems ever out of reach. Perhaps it seems out of reach because many don’t know what peace really is. In this newsletter we discuss what peace is and how it is attained.

In WEBSITE NEWS we remember some chaplets that would be good to pray in these times, most especially the Rosary, which was recommended to us by Our Lady of Fatima: "Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace in the world."

In COMMUNITY NEWS we describe a “normal” day at Carmel, from the time we rise in the morning until the time we go to bed at night. Read more…